Four Rights of the Pharmacy Educational Consumer

Professional students and their families invest a significant amount of time and finances to obtain a degree. While education is not a typical consumer good and should not be treated as such, there are certain expectations that colleges and schools should be prepared to meet. This article contrasts academic entitlement issues with 4 fundamental rights underpinning colleges’ and schools’ fiduciary responsibilities to students. The authors submit that students, in their roles as higher education consumers, have the following rights: (1) to have the opportunity to learn, (2) to learn from faculty members dedicated to best teaching practices, (3) to learn within a curriculum designed to prepare them for the profession, and (4) to have access to resources necessary to succeed.